Meiosis = extreme confusion. Please help!

[greengoddess]

Just to clarify:
in M1 the number of chromosomes is halved as homologous chromosomes separate.
in M2 the chromatids separate.
in terms of numbers, say for humans you'd have 46 chromosomes at the start, then 23 after M1, then 23 chromatids after M2...?
I've given myself a headache with this...
and what is the cell at the start? A gamete? If so wouldn't it just have 23 chromosomes to start with.
I'm deeply confused, to say the least.
Please help me... : )

[Picaq]

The cell at the start of meiosis is not a gamete, but a germ cell (meaning it will divide itself into gametes in the reproductive organs). So, the cell starts out as 2n= 2 sets of chromosomes= a diploid cell (46 Chromosomes). Before it enters meiosis, its chromosomes have been duplicates (DNA synthesis), which means that the chromosomes each have 2 chromatids joined together in an "X" shape. After meiosis 1, the homologous chromosomes separate, so that each of the 2 daughter cells have 23 chromosomes= n= a haploid cell (23 chromosomes), however, each chromosome still consists of 2 chromatids (still in that X shape). In meiosis 2, the haploid daughter cells' chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate and then split into individual chromatids, that is, each chromosome in the resulting 4 gametes after meiosis 2 have 23 chromosomes, but each chromosome consists of only one chromatid--- an "l" shape.

I hope this makes sense.